The Cowley-built Mini hit a new sales record in 2011 with more than 50,000 cars finding new owners in the UK.

The figure was a rise of more than 14 per cent on the previous year and made the car the tenth best seller in the country with a 2.58 per cent share of the market.

Only Alfa Romeo along with luxury brands Lexus and Infiniti had greater percentage rises but on far lower volumes of sales.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show 50,138 cars were sold in the UK, compared to 43,894 in 2010, a rise of 14.2 per cent.

The larger Countryman model enjoyed a successful first full year of sales with 13,000 customers taking delivery with bosses at parent firm BMW saying it is the first Mini to make a real impact on the company car market.

The year <<2011>> also saw the launch of the Coupé model in October with more than 1,300 sales.

Tim Abbott, managing director of BMW Group UK, said: “Mini has achieved record UK sales and market share thanks to strong performances from the Countryman and the new Coupé.

“Although the 2012 outlook is challenging, we are going into the year with the youngest product portfolio in the premium sector and we remain cautiously optimistic”

The success is set to continue with another new model, the Roadster, due in the first quarter of this year.

Across the industry in the UK, 1,941,253 cars were sold, down 4.4 per cent on 2010.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: “Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012, but record numbers of new and updated models, significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies will help to encourage consumers into showrooms.

“Business and consumer confidence will be the key to a successful year, so it will be important that government delivers on its growth strategy and helps to resolve instability in the Euro Zone.”